Let's talk Presses

[HOGGHEAD]

I am looking for another press for my reloading bench. Right now I have a Lyman Orange Crush single stage press. And I have a Hornady Progressive. I like both presses for what I use them for. But I want another press for a different purpose. I would like to try and explain the different purposes and see what you guys have experience with.

What I am looking for is a press for more precision reloading than I feel I can get from my Hornady Progressive, yet more speed than I am getting from my single stage. Not Bench Rest accuracy, but more precise reloading ability.

I have been looking at lots of presses. Such as the Lyman and RCBS Turret head presses. And the less expensive Dillon BL-550. With the Dillon having a shell plate that turns, while the others have the overhead turret that moves.

For alot of my relaoding I like to take out the case. and mesure the length of the cases, or do some trimming, or other case prep while I am in the reloading process. So being able to take the shells out is a must.

Second I would like a press that takes one of the belling dies that allows a powder measure such as my RCBS powder measure to be used in conjunction with the belling die?? Is there a die large enough that will allow a Uni-Flow measure to be used??

I also like the idea of the removable die plate for the RCBS turret press. Anyone have any experience with those removable heads?? Are they solid?? Or flimsy??

I know this is alot of questions, but I am trying to compile as much data as I can. Then make a decision from that data. So if you only help with one part of the post, then by all means respond.

I really like the self indexing of the Hornady progressive for fast handgun loads like 45 ACP and such. But I do not want a self-indexing press for this one. That way I can control each and every step.

Does anyone have one of the BL-550 Dillon's?? How solid is the shell plate?? Tom.

 

[The Mechanic]

Re: Let's talk Presses

Could always pick up a Hollywood.

Love mine.

 

[ryhag1]

Re: Let's talk Presses

Forster single stage press. Very accurate

 

[Clark]

Re: Let's talk Presses

I have heard complaints that Hollywood presses are all collector's items.

I got a Urtnel Falcon scope at a gunshow in 2006 for $14... just because other people want them.

If I see a Hollywood press for cheap, I am going to get it.

 

[The Mechanic]

Re: Let's talk Presses

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Clark</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have heard complaints that Hollywood presses are all collector's items.

I got a Urtnel Falcon scope at a gunshow in 2006 for $14... just because other people want them.

If I see a Hollywood press for cheap, I am going to get it.</div></div>
They are just hard to get. They are out there but it is rare to find someone who is selling theirs. It is a one man show and Joe is getting up there in years so I am sure they either will be coming to an end or hopefully someone buys him out but I doubt it. I also have a micro adjustable die that is just amazing that he made. Feels like it weighs about 4 pounds and an 800 grain bore rider can fit easily thought the "side" of the die.

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: Let's talk Presses

Take a look at one of these:

http://harrellsprec.com/index.php?crn=205&rn=381&action=show_detail

The only caveat may be window opening size if you load really long rounds on it but the Harrell's are good folks and will answer any questions you have.
They are located in Salem, VA.

 

[adkmtnman]

Re: Let's talk Presses

Tom...

I have the RL 550 loaded!!!

I LOVE THE PRESS. Thousands of rounds through it and NOT A PROBLEM. Easy to maintain, solid construction, rapid caliber changes, stays dialed in. I cannot say enough good about it. I've had this press for 9 years and it just pumps the rounds out. I have setups for .40, .45 and .223. I'm thinking of getting a setup for 9mm if I order a RR AR in 9mm.
Another great thing I like about my 550 and Dillon is the fact that anything new they make for the 550, it will be compatible with an older model. At least with my press it has been like that.
They offer EXCELLENT customer service *IF* you need it!

Can't go wrong and you wont be sorry!


Rob...

 

[adkmtnman]

Re: Let's talk Presses

attempt to upload pics... bear with me...

 

[Casey Simpson]

Re: Let's talk Presses

I got a 550 for pistol loading, BUT then Jason taught me how to prep rifle brass on it:
The first station is the universal decapper
The second station is the sizer with the expander button removed.
The third is the expander mandrel.

Now, with imr8208xbr, because it flows so well, a loader could run, using a dry neck lube,
first station as a sizer with the expander button/decapper installed, prime.
Rig a regular powder meter with xbr in the second station.
Seater in the third.

Using two lock rings jam them against one another rather than jamming one against the tool head and place an "o" ring between the lock ring and the tool head allowing the die to float, reducing runout as many loaders profess.

A benchrest shooter who wins I know uses a press that looks like it was found in a junk yard.

 

[patriotoutlaw]

Re: Let's talk Presses

Dillon for numbers, Forester for Single Stage, Harrells for accuracy.

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: Let's talk Presses

"Let's talk Presses "

Okay.

First, people agonize over presses much more than they should. After all, there is no massive difference in what can be done on any press in a given class and not much between classes.

Second, for precision rifle ammo, get a single stage. Other than personal tastes which one really won't matter to the quality of what can be done on any of them. Presses are very simple devices that have long been designed and made as perfect as they need to be.

Third, for making 'precision' handgun ammo, the press matters even less than it does for rifles. No one I know of does BR handgun shooting and the major limit to accurate shooting is the inaccurate shooter; no press can fix that.

Develop an accurate load, assemble it properly and it will shoot well no matter what press it was made on.

 

[3fingervic]

Re: Let's talk Presses

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: shoot4fun</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Take a look at one of these:

http://harrellsprec.com/index.php?crn=205&rn=381&action=show_detail

The only caveat may be window opening size if you load really long rounds on it but the Harrell's are good folks and will answer any questions you have.
They are located in Salem, VA.
</div></div>

That's an interesting progressive press. Thanks for sharing.

 

[TwoGun]

Re: Let's talk Presses

The Harrell will not run-out as accurate as the Forster Co-Axial. Nothing beats the the floating die on a Forster. The Harrell is a light weight bench rest press for loading in the field with conventional dies although it's not as good as an arbor press with custom arbor dies.

The Dillon with it's somewhat sloppy tool head (leave it sloppy) is still the most accurate progressive available. And with the right funnel modifications and the right powder is capable of throwing consistent loads to mid-range distances.

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: Let's talk Presses

You guys are are correct on the RL550. I have loaded thousands of rifle rounds thru mine and have never felt like the accuracy was not there. The only thing that has been an issue is using the Dillon powder measure with the longer grain powders.
I still load my varmint ammo with the RL550 but use a Hornady single stage LnL to load my match ammo and measure powder with a RCBS Chargemaster.

 

[Iamironman]

Re: Let's talk Presses

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TwoGun</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
The Dillon with it's somewhat sloppy tool head (leave it sloppy) is still the most accurate progressive available. And with the right funnel modifications and the right powder is capable of throwing consistent loads to mid-range distances. </div></div>

To the OP, also check out the Redding turret press. Very well made.

 

[clmayfield]

Re: Let's talk Presses

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TwoGun</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The Harrell will not run-out as accurate as the Forster Co-Axial. Nothing beats the the floating die on a Forster. The Harrell is a light weight bench rest press for loading in the field with conventional dies although it's not as good as an arbor press with custom arbor dies.
</div></div>

The Harrell probably does run out as accurate as the Forster Co-Ax. The Forster does what it does through superior design / engineering. The Harrell does what it does through meticulous manufacture.

Arbor presses are for seating only... you still need a press for sizing. Arbor + custom seater is hard to beat for that. Personally, I use a Neil Jones custom seater with a Forster Co-ax, which I found slightly superior to the Redding Competition Seater with the Co-ax.

There are many many ways to skin a cat. And as was mentioned above, meticulous reloading practices make a bigger difference than press choice.